JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Senate on Thursday approved legislation letting employers refuse to provide health insurance coverage for birth control in some instances.
The legislation, passed in a 26-5 vote, would let employers deny coverage unless an employee has a medical need for birth control. The measure now goes to the Missouri House.
Sponsoring Sen. John Lamping, a St. Louis County Republican, said business owners should not have to pay for medical procedures they find morally objectionable.
Some Senate Democrats said the bill would make it more difficult for women to obtain contraception. They also said most of the bill’s provisions are already in state law, and that Republicans merely offered the bill to appease conservative religious voters.
Front Section, Pages 2 on 03/30/2012